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5 ways 'Crash Bandicoot' made a huge impact in the world of video games

5 ways 'Crash Bandicoot' made a huge impact in the world of video games

1. The character is charming.

2. The games were simple and fun.

If you've played mobile games over the past few years, the image above might look familiar to you. The original "Crash Bandicoot" games were basically "Temple Run," albeit with a bit more depth and longevity. As Crash, you either ran forwards or backwards along narrow jungle corridors, collecting items, defeating enemies with his signature spin move, and jumping across perilous bottomless pits.

It wasn't complicated, but it didn't need to be. It was simple, challenging and addictive, and it's a testament to its value that it lives on in the form of phone games today.

3. The games looked fantastic (at the time).

It might be tough to tell now, but back then, the "Crash Bandicoot" games looked incredible. They were bright and colorful, and in an era when technology meant games couldn't have as much detail in characters or levels, Crash was incredibly expressive. His big eyes and variety of facial expressions made him feel more like a cartoon character than past video game mascots.

4. Its use of 3D was mindblowing.

The 3D revolution came in the mid-90s, meaning games weren't just viewed from the top or from the side anymore. Games had more freedom of motion than ever, it opened up countless new opportunities for creativity from game developers.

"Crash Bandicoot" took advantage of that opportunity, making something that took full advantage of 3D gameplay while still being accessible and fun. It's helped prove that 3D was worthwhile, alongside games like "Super Mario 64" and "Tomb Raider."

5. It helped define a console.

You may not remember, but when the original PlayStation came along, it was a pretty big deal. Up to that point, the main competition was between Nintendo and Sega, but Sony put out a console that blew everything else out of the water. The PlayStation had the most and arguably the best games of the mid-to-late 90s.

"Crash Bandicoot" was a big part of that. It gave the PlayStation a mascot on par with Mario or Sonic, and even though Crash fell by the wayside for almost 20 years after his third game, the excitement over his revival shows that the love for our jorts-clad hero never died.